Improvement in trunk-clamps



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

ALBERT J. SESSIONS, DEOEASED, OF BRISTOL, CONN., BY ELLEN L. SESSIONS, ADMINISTRATRIX, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN H. SESSIONS, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRUNK-CLAMPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 108,299, dated October 11, 1870,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT J. SESSIONS, of Bristol, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut7 have invented a new and Improved Clamp for Traveling-Trunks, of which the following is a specification:

My invention consists of the improved flexible wrought sheet-metal clamps for travelingtrunks, hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my invention, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same.

A A designate the two wings of the clamp, which are provided with holes, through which screws or nails are driven to secure said wings to any two respective sides ofthe trunk.

Immediately in front of the corner a, and extending a part of the length of each of the arms A A, is a corrugatioh or rounded ledge, B, which should be as prominent at the extreme corner, or more so, than at any other portion of the clamp.

To construct this clamp, l employ wrought sheet metal, of the proper thickness, from which blanks are cut of the desired form. These blanks are then heated in any proper furnace, and, while hot, are swaged or struck up into the form described in dies of similar shape. I

As the value of the clamp depends in a great measure upon the prominence of the ledge at the extreme corner, I consider it essential that the clamp shall be swaged while hot, as otherwise this prominence cannot be obtained.

These clamps are designed to be thickly set, so as to bind the several. sides of the trunk to the ends of the same, while the ledge B, projecting from the corner, will protect the said corner while the trunk is being handled.

In many of the trunks now made, the top and sides or ends are at obtuse angles to each other, in which case the clamp must be bent into a corresponding forni.

The wrought sheet metal of which this clamp is constructed is suciently iiexible so that the clamp can be formed to the shape of the trunk while upon the same. This is done by simply placing the clamp in the desired position on the corner ot' the trunk and striking the corner of the clamp a light blow with a hammer, when the clamp readily conforms ro the shape of the trunk, and can then be secured thereto in the usual manner.

I am aware that a clamp similar in form has been previously made of cast malleable metal, but said metal, when of the form described, is so inflexible that the clamp cannot be formed to the shape of au obtuse-angled trunk while held upon the same, but must previously be bentiu a vise or on an anvil, which, it' successful, involves extra labor, and often results in the breakage of the clamp.

By my invention I produce a clamp sufficiently iiexible to allow ol' its being formed to fit either right or obtuse angled trunk-corners without any danger of breaking the clamp in bending.

I am also aware that plain wrought metal clamps having no ledge have been used to bind the ends of boxes and trunks.

I claim as my invention- As a new article of manufacture, the hereindescribed corrugated trunk-clamp, consisting of wrought sheet metal, whereby the clamp is suicientl y flexible to be readily formed to lit either right or obtuse angled corners, as

described.

A. J. SESSIONS. Witnesses:

JOHN WARD, T. T. WILsDoN. 

